Shock absorbing grip for racquets and the like

Abstract

A shock absorbing grip for the handle of a tennis racquet or the like having a polyurethane layer bonded to a felt layer where the ratio of the thickness of the polyurethane layer to the felt layer is equal to or larger than about 0.18. The bonded-together layers are configured as a strip which is wrapped about the racquet handle.

I claim: 
     
       1. The combination of a handle for an impact imparting device and shock absorbing grip applied over such handle to conform to the external configuration of such handle, said combination comprising: a strip which is spirally wrapped about said handle, the strip consisting of an open-pored textile layer having an inner surface adhered to and abutting said handle and a smooth closed pore polyurethane layer having its inner surface bonded to the outer surface of the textile layer remote from said handle, with the pores of such polyurethane layer extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said handle, the thickness ratio of the transverse central region of the polyurethane layer/textile layer being equal to or larger than approximately 0.18, and with the textile layer providing strength for the polyurethane layer while the polyurethane layer both absorbs shocks and provides tackiness so as to inhibit slippage of a user's hand relative to said handle with the thickness of the strip being substantially 1.3-2.0 mm;   the thickness of the textile layer tapering from a transverse central region towards the sides of the strip to facilitate wrapping of the strip about the handle; and   an adhesive provided along the inner surface of the textile strip securing the strip to the handle.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the polyurethane layer is about equal to the thickness of the textile layer.